Automatic parts orienter and loader



Oct. 1, 1957 c. E. SCOTT 2,808,141

AUTOMATIC PARTS ORIENTER AND LOADER Filed Sept. 18, 1956 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 IN V EN TOR. (24 52 017 E 5344 Z2 Oct. 1, 1957 c. E. SCOTT 2,808,141

AUTOMATIC PARTS ORIENTER AND LOADER Filed Sept. 18, 1956 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENT0R.I 6/45 2 17? E 560 2: BY

Oct. 1, 1957 c. E. SCOTT 2,808,141

AUTOMATIC PARTS ORIENTER AND LOADER Filed Sept. 18, 1956 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOK. 6' 1452 .4( 55cc BY AUTOMATIC PARTS ORIENTER AND LOADER Clayton E. Scott, Birmingham, Mich., assignor to The Michigan Tool Company, Detroit, Mich., a corporation of Delaware Application September 18, 1956, Serial No. 610,554

11 Claims. (Cl. 193-43) machine.

It is another object to provide a novel and improved device of the above character, which is capable of prestoring a number of workpieces in horizontal position and in readiness for feeding to the second automatic machine.

It is a further object to provide an improved device of the above nature, which is extremely simple in construction and operation, and which may utilize a portion of the machine to which the parts are being fed for actuation of the orienting and feeding device itself.

Other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the subsequent description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings:

Figure l is an elevational view, with parts being broken away, of the orienting portion of the device showing the feed chute which receives parts delivered from the first automatic machine, the tube of the orienter being shown in its upper position;

Figure 2 is a plan view taken in the direction of the arrows 22 of Figure l and showing the disposition of the feed chute with respect to the receiving tube;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary cross-sectional View in elevation taken along the line 33 of Figure l and showing the manner in which one end portion of each gear blank engages the upper lip of the tube preparatory to falling into the tube in horizontal position;

Figure 4 is a plan view of the mechanism for feeding the horizontally disposed blanks from the bottom of the tube to a position between the vertical spindles of a gear hobbing machine;

Figure 5 is a fragmentary elevational view in cross section taken along the line 55 of Figure 4 and showing the pivot mounting for the cylinder;

Figure 6 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view in elevation taken along the line 66 of Figure 4 and show ing the crank arm connection for the blank delivery mechanism;

Figure 7 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view in elevation taken along the line 77 of Figure 4 and showing the cross-sectional configuration of the arcuate guide track for delivering the gear blanks to the hobbing machine; and

Figure 8 is a fragmentary elevational view in cross States Patet 0 Patented Oct. 1, 1957 "ice section taken along the line 8-8 of Figure 4 and showing the detent for retaining the gear blanks within the tube between strokes of the gear feeding arm.

The invention comprises in general a device which receives fiat circular parts such as gear blanks which are delivered automatically from a machine tool onto a chute where they are held in vertical position. The orienting and storing portion of the device includes a cylindrical tube vertically disposed at the lower end of the inclined chute in such position that as each blank rolls oif the end of the chute it will engage the upper lip of the tube. The wall thickness of the tube is substantially less than the thickness of the blanks and only the outer end portion of each gear blank will engage the tube lip, with the center of gravity of the blank spaced inwardly from the tube wall. The tube is movable between an upper position and a lower position, and when in its upper position the blank is supported by the tube lip between a pair of vertical guide walls which retain the blank in position and prevent it from falling over into the tube. As the tube moves to its lower position, the gear blank resting on its lip will be withdrawn from between the guide walls and will fall over into the tube, dropping to the bottom thereof in horizontal position. A stop attached to the tube will move downwardly with the latter and prevent the next blank from entering between the guide walls.

A swinging arm located below the lower end of the tube is adapted to engage individual gear blanks in horizontal position as they fall from the bottom of the tube, moving each blank along an arcuate track into position between vertical spindles of a machine tool such as a gear hobber. A detent finger is provided for preventing gear blanks from falling out of the tube during each stroke of the loading arm. The movements of the loading arm and tube are preferably synchronized so that a constant flow 'of gear blanks is maintained in and out of the tube. If desired, a number of blanks may be stored within the tube at the beginning of the operation.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, 11 rep resents the outlet aperture of a machine tool (not shown) for manufacturing or finishing flat circular parts such as gear blanks. An inclined chute 12 is connected to aperture 11 and is adapted to receive the gear blanks as they are delivered. This downwardly inclined chute may be supported by a pair of brackets 13 and 14, and is additionally supported adjacent its outer end 15 by a bracket 16 to which it is connected by a coil spring 17. In particular, a bolt 18 may be secured at its upper end to bracket 16, passing through an aperture in a plate 19 attached to the underside of chute 12. Spring 17 surrounds bolt 18 and the arrangement is such that limited upward deflection of the outer end of chute 12 will be permitted, thismovement being resisted by spring 17. As will be later seen, this arrangement will prevent the possibility of damage to chute 12 should a gear blank be inadvertently jammed in the orienting mechanism.

As is best seen in Figure 3, the outer end 15 of chute 12 is provided with a pair of vertical guide walls 21 and 22 which are in effect extensions of the side walls of chute 12. Disposed beneath walls 21 and 22 is a cylindrical tube 23. As-is best seen in Figure 4, tube 23 is part of an orienting and loading assembly generally indicated at 24 which is secured to a vertically movable tool-supporting column 25 of a machine tool such as a gear hobber (not shown). The means by which as sembly 24 is connected to column 25 of the hobbing machine will be described in detail later. It will suflice at present to state that the hobbing machine has vertically aligned spindles, one of which is shown at 26 in Figure 4, between which a gear blank is fed by assembly 24 while in its upper position.

. the bobbing machine.

Column 25, and thus assembly 24 together with tube 23, will descend slowly from their upper to their lower position during each machining operation and will return to their upper. position as the-bobbed gear isiremoved from between. the spindles.

As seen in Figure 1, tube 23, which may be provided witha-pluralityof viewing slotsl27, has an annular upper lip 28 which is provided with a. V-shaped notch. 29* in one portion thereof. The portion 31?. of lip 28 opposite notch 29 is relieved adjacent the inner tube surface, as shown in Figure 3; The wall thickness of tube 23 is substantially less than the thickness of. gear blanks 32, and notch 29 is so disposed relative" to guide walls 21' and.22 that a gear blank-'32 disposedbetween these walls will have its outer portion 33 resting on notch 29, as seen best in Figure 3;. with the-centerfof gravity of the blank spacedinwardly from the tube Wall. The internal diameter of tube 23 is sufficient to freely accommodate gear blanks 32 when in their. horizontal position.

. A stop 34 of inverted U-shapeissecuredto the upperend of tube 23 and extends 'thereabove a pointed outer end 35 of stop 34-being, disposed above guide walls 21- and- 22 and in position to move downwardly between these walls when tube 23- moves downwardly. In particular, end 35 of stop 34 is so-disposed relative to the gear blanks 32. within chute 12 that. as tube 23 moves downwardly with a gearblank 32 restingon1its upper lip, the next gear blank in line will be prevented from rolling any further until tube 23 is again raised. A bracket 36 secured to the upper end of tube 23 may be utilized for holding stop 34 in position, the stop being vertically adjustable with respect to'tube 23'- by means of a plurality of set screws 37. An end plate 38 is secured to the outer edges of guide walls 21 and 22 adjacent the upper portion of bracket 36, thisend plate limitingthe forward movement of gear blanks 32-.

As stated previously, tube 23 is secured to and movesvertically with an orienting and loading assembly 24 which will now be described. This assembly comprises a main frame 39- secured to tool-supporting. column- 25' of the bobbing machine by bolts 41a A bracket 42 is secured to the upper surface of frame 39, as seen in.

Figures 4 and 8, bracket 42- serv-ingto support tube 23. In particular, the lower. end of tube-23 has a shouldered collar 43' secured thereto by means of set screws 44, collar 43 being secured to a projecting portion 45- of bracket 42 by means ofi bolts 46. Collar 43 is essentially an extension of. tube 23 and. has a bore 47: at its lower end which is coaxial with the bore of tube 23 but is tapered down to a slightly smaller diameter, as seen in Figure 8, so that gear blanks 32 will be maintained in exact position as they. leave the lower endofthe collar.

Means are provided for transferring the horizontally disposed gear blanks one at'a time from the lower end of collar 43 to vertical spindles 21S of the bobbing machine; This means comprises an: arm 48 secured to a pivot pin 49 mounted on main frame 39, and carrying at its-outer end a movable finger S1 and. a fixed finger. 52. As seen best in Figure 4, the facing surfaces of these spaced fingers are arcuate in shape and are of such curvature that they may receive between them a single gear blank 32 when in the. position shown in Figure 4. An

arcuate guide track having a base portion 53 and an. upstanding portion 54; asseen best in Figure'7, has one end located beneath collar 43, base 53' being. secured to one side of main frame 39. The other end 55 ofthis track is positioned: immediately adjacent spindles 26 of When: column 25- of the hobbing machine is in its upper position, track portion 55 will be so disposed relative to spindles 26' that a gear blank pushed. off this end oftbe track will belable'to be gripped between spindles 2'6. 51 of anm 48 issuchthat when the arm is swung'zcounterclockwise in. Figure 4 firom a: position adjacent spindles:

26 to the position shown in solid lines in this figure;.

The nature of articulated finger finger 51 will be capable of swinging out of position temporarily so that the gear blank held by spindle 26 will not prevent return movement of arm 48. Adjustable stops 56 and 57 may be provided for controlling the limit positions of arm 48, and a tension coil spring 58 may also be provided for fiacilitating the return of arm 48 to the position shown" in Figure 4.

The means for moving arm 48 from its receiving positio-n shown in Figure 4 to its delivery position adjacent spindles 26" comprises a cylinder 59 the head of which islpivoted' at 61- to one end of frame 39, as shown in Figure 5. Piston rod 62 of this cylinder is pivotally connected by apin 63' to-a crank arm 64 which is secured to pivot pin 49, arm 48 also being secured to this pivot pin. A switch 65 may'bemounted on frame 39 to cooperate with pin 63 during its reciprocating movement. Switch 65 may for example be a safety switch which will j prevent operation of the hobbing machine except when arm. 48 is in. its retracted: position.

Means are provided for preventing. gear blanks 32 from dropping out ofcollar 43 while a gear blank grasped by fingers 51 and 52 of arm 48 is being moved toward spindles 26 of the bobbing machine. This means comprises a! detent. 66J-rnounted' for horizontal sliding movement in a bore 67 within bracket 42 adjacent the bottom of collar 43; as shown. in Figure 8. When arm 48 is in. the position shown in Figure 4, finger 52 thereof will engage the outer end 68 ofdetent 66, holding the detent in retracted position within bore 67. A coil spring 69 is disposed between the inner end of detent 66- land a plug 71 mounted in bracket 42, and urges detent 66 toan extended position in which outer end 68 of the detent directly underlies bore 47 of collar 43 and will prevent downward movement of gear blanks 32.

In operation, tube 23 may be preloaded by manually placing? several gear blanksv 32 therein. Normally, even if several gear blanks should not be placed manually within tube 23, the reciprocations of column 25 which are necessary during setting up of the gear hobber will cause several gear blanks 32 to be preloaded within tube 23. Gear blanks 32 will be fed from aperture 11 at the delivery end of the machine which manufactures or finishesthe gear blanks, and will roll onto the upper end of chute 12. The gear blanks will follow the inclined path of chute 12 until the first gear blank in line reaches a position between guide walls 21' and 22, where it will drop 'downuntil its edge portion 33 will engage notch- 29 in tube lip 28, as seen in Figure 3. Further movement of this gear blank and its succeeding blanks will thereafter be prevented until vertical reciprocation of column 25 and assembly 24, including tube 23, begiI1 S.- It will be understood that any gear blanks 32 which will bavebeen placed within tube 23 prior to initiation ofthe gear. bobbing operation will fall to the bottom of the tube and through bore 47 in collar 43, the lowermostgear blank coming to rest on track 54 and. disposed between fingers 51 and 52 of arm 48, as seen in Figure 8.

When operation of the bobbing machine is desired, a first gear blank 32 will. be loaded between spindles 26 by reciprocation of arm 48 which will then'return to. its retracted position. As column 25 beginsits descent during the bobbing operation, the gear blank 32 restingwithin notch-29 will be lowered. When this gear blank dropsgear blank 32 into the tube in a horizontal position, andthe. blank. will fall until it hits the top of the pile of. gear blanks within the tube, or reaches the topof track 54 between fingers 51 and 52. of arm 48 if no gear. blanks are within: the: tube or. collar 43. Meanwhile, stop 35.

will have been lowered into obstructing relationxwith' thenext succeeding gear blank 32. on. chute 12, preventing forward movement of the remaining gear blanks. Arm 48 will remain stationary, as far as its pivoting movement is concerned, during the descent of column and assembly 24.

When the hobbing operation has been completed, column 25 and assembly 24 will be returned to their upper position while the hobbed gear is removed from between spindles 26, this removal being accomplished either manually or by a separate mechanism (not shown). As this upward movement takes place, stop will be withdrawn upwardly from its obstructing position, and the next gear blank 32 will be permitted to roll into notch 29 as tube lip 28 approaches guide walls 21 and 22. Ann 48 will still remain in its retracted position during the upward movement of assembly 24.

After column 25 and assembly 24 have reached their upper position, cylinder 59 will be actuated to swing arm 48 clockwise, as shown in Figure 4, until it engages stop 56. This actuation will be accomplished by an appropriate fluid control device (not shown) governed either manually or automatically in accordance with requirements. The gear blank 32 disposed between fingers 51 and 52 of arm 48 will be carried along the top of arcuate track 54 into position between spindles 26. The gear blank will be grasped between the spindles, and cylinder 59 will then be reversed to retract arm 48 in a counterclockwise direction until it reaches stop 57, this movement being aided by spring 58. During this retracting movement, movable finger 51 will swing clockwise momentarily so as to clear gear blank 32 held between spindles 26.

As arm 48 leaves its retracted position, finger 52 will be withdrawn from engagement with detent 66, permitting spring 69 to project this detent into obstructing relation with the gear blank 32 next above that which is being loaded by arm 48. The gear blanks will thus be prevented from dropping until arm 48 returns to its retracted position, at which time another gear blank will drop into position between fingers 51 and 52. It will thus be seen that a continuous supply of properly oriented gear blanks will be available for the hobbing machine, and that this supply will be automatically adjusted to the requirements of the machine, since the completion of each hobbing operation will result in the loading of another gear blank into tube 23. Before being fed to the hobber, the orientation of each gear blank will be changed in an identical manner from a vertical to a horizontal position, thus facilitating loading into the vertical spindle machine.

While it will be apparent that the preferred embodiment of the invention disclosed is well calculated to fulfill the objects above stated, it will be appreciated that the invention is susceptible to modification, variation and change without departing from the proper scope or fair meaning of the subjoined claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a mechanism for shifting a flat part from a vertical to a horizontal orientation, a pair of parallel vertical guide walls adapted to retain said part therebetween in vertical position, a tube vertically disposed below said guide walls, the internal size of said tube being suflicient to hold said part in horizontal position therein, therdisposition of the upper lip of said tube with respect to said guide walls being such that the part when disposed between said guide walls will have an end portion supported by said lip with the center of gravity of said part dis posed inwardly of said lip, and means for moving said tube from an upper position in which the part resting on said lip will be disposed between said guide walls, and a lower position in which said part will be below said guide walls, whereby the moment force on said part caused by said position of its center of gravity will cause said part to fall into said tube in a horizontal position.

2. In a device for orienting and feeding flat circular workpieces, a pair of vertically disposed parallel guide walls, a conveyor for feeding vertically disposed workpieces successively toward a position between said guide walls, a tube vertically disposed below said guide walls and movable between upper and lower positions, the upper lip of said tube being in such position that an end portion of a workpiece disposed within said guide walls will rest on said lip with the center of gravity of such workpiece disposed radially inwardly of said lip, means for moving said tube downwardly with respect to said guide walls, whereby a workpiece resting on said lip will be withdrawn from between said guide walls and fall into horizontal position within said tube, and a stop responsive'to movementof said tube to its lower position for preventing succeeding workpieces on said conveyor from entering between said parallel guide walls and responsive to return of said tube to its upper position for releasing said succeeding workpieces.

3. In a device for the controlled reorienting and feeding of workpieces having a flat circular shape, an inclined chute for holding said workpieces in a row in vertical position, a pair of parallel vertical guide walls attached to the lower end of said chute and extending therefrom, an end wall at the outer end of said guide walls, a cylindrical tube vertically disposed below said guide walls and having its axis displaced laterally with respect to the center line between said guide walls, said displacement being such that a workpiece disposed between said guide walls will have a portion thereof aligned with a portion of the upper lip of said tube with the center of gravity of said workpiece displaced inwardly from said lip, a notch in said lip and adapted to receive such portion of a workpiece, said tube being movable between an upper position in which a workpiece resting in said notch will be partially disposed between said guide walls, and a lower position in which such workpiece will be withdrawn below said guide walls and will fall into said tube in horizontal position, and a stop carried by and movable with said tube, said stop being movable between a retracted position when said tube is in its upper position and a stop position when said tube is in its lower position, said stop when in its stop position obstructing movemelrit of workpieces on said conveyor toward said guide wa s.

4. The combination according to claim 3, further provided with a relieved portion on the upper lip of said tube opposite said notch, whereby workpieces falling into said tube will clear said upper lip.

5. The combination according to claim 3, further provided with resilient means for supporting said conveyor adjacent said tube, whereby a workpiece caught between said tube and said guide walls during upward movement of said tube will cause yielding movement of said conveyor in an upward direction.

6. The combination according to claim 3, said stop comprising a member of substantially inverted U-shape having one leg secured to the upper end of said tube and the other leg adapted to be disposed between said guide walls when said stop is in its stop position.

7. In a parts orienter and feeder for use in conjunction with a vertical spindle machine tool adapted to machine fiat circular workpieces, means for feeding successive vertically disposed workpieces in one direction, a pair of guide walls in vertical parallel relation at the delivery end of said feeding means, a tube disposed below said guide walls and movable between an upper and a lower position, the upper lip of said tube being olfset with respect to the center line between said guide walls so that a workpiece disposed between said guide walls will have one end portion thereof resting on said upper lip with the center of gravity of such workpiece disposed radially inwardly of said lip, whereby movement of said tube from its upper to its lower position will cause withdrawal of such workpiece from between said guide walls' and toppling of the workpiece into said tube in horizontal position, and an arm disposed below said tube and swingable on a vertical axis between a" retracted position and a' loading position, die outer portion ofsaid between upper and lower positions, said'stopwh'en initsupper position being retracted and'whenin its lower position'being in obstructing relation with workpieces on said feedingw means, whereby suchworkpieces will be held from movementtowardi a position between said guide walls.

9. The combination according to claim 7-, furtherprovided with a detent adjacent the:lower end of saidtube and movable between a retracted position and an extended position, means for moving saiddetent to its re tracted position in response to movement ofsaid arm toit's retracted position, and means for moving said detent to its-extended position in responseto movementofsaidarm: away from its retracted position, whereby workpieces may not drop from said tube;

10; In a parts-orienting and feeding device for use in conjunction with-a vertical spindlemachine tooladapted tomachine flat circular: work-pieces andhaving a vertically reciproca'ble column movable between: upper and lower positions, an orienting and feeding assembly mountedon said column for vertical reciprocation therewith, said assembly including? a vertically disposed tube: of diam-- etcr sufficient to holdsaid workpieces in horizontal position, a feeding arm on. said' assembly swingable' on a vertical pivot and: disposed at the lower end of' said tube, a horizontal arcuate track ontsaidlassembly extend ing between the lower end of. said tube: and the loading position of said machine tool, a stationary'inclinedchuteindependent of said assembly adapted to hold a row of workpieces in vertical position, thelowerend'of said chute being adiacent the uppen end of said tube, and a'tpair'ofc parallel vertical guide walls at the: lower end' of: and: connected tosaid chute; the upperrliproisaidtube'being' offset with respect to the center line between said guide:

walls wherebyza work-piece disposed betweensaid guide walls will rest with one end: portion on said upper lip and with its-center ofgravity radially inwardly of said lip, the relative positions ofsaid tubeIandtchute. being such that when said tube is in its upper position a workpiece resting on said upper lip will be partially disposedbetween said guide walls, said workpiece being withdrawable from between said guide walls when said tube is moved to its lower position whereby such workpiece will fall into said tube in horizontal position, the position of"said'tracli'- relative tosaid tube beingsuch that a workpiece falling into'said tubewill descent until it engages said tracl ','said arm being swingable between-a retracted position and a loading position and being so positioned as to-- move a workpiece resting: onsaid track toward said vertical spindles when said arm' moves toward its loading 'positiom 1 1. In a par-tsorienten and feeder'for'use in conjunction with a vertical spindle machine tool of the type adapted tomachine flat circular workpieces and having a'column movable from-arr upper to a lower position and backto said upper; position during a single machining operation, a frame secured; to said column, avertically disposed cylindrical tube secured to said frame and extending upwardly therefrom, an arcuate track secured to said frame and extending froma positionbeneath said tube to. a position adjacent said vertical spindles, said track beingedjacentl the loading: position:of said machine tool? when: said; column is. in itsupper. position, an arm mountedz-on'ssaidframe and swingabl'e' on a vertical pivot between a: retracted; positionadjacent' the. lower end of said: tube: and above said: track, and a loading position at the other end: of said track, saith arm. when moved from. its retracted terns; loadingi'position. being capable ofimovinga workpiece along said:track,ia pair of parallel vertical: guide: walls-. adjacent the upper end of, said tube and: stationarily'mounted independently of said column, means) forrfeedingsuccessive workpieces in vertical posi tion between said? guide walls, the position of said tube with. respect; to said: guide; walls. being; such that when said tube is in its upper position a workpiece disposed within said guide; walls Will:- rest upon the upper lip of said tube: in. oli-center position with the center of gravityof such workpiece: tending: to tipthe workpiece into said tube'inthorizontal position, said tube when in its-.lower position:permitting;suchrworkpiece to drop from between-said guiderwalls whereby, said workpiece willtfall into said tube'anddescent to said.track,ta stop mounted on said; tube and: movable? between a retracted position when said tube is in its. upper. position and a blocking position when said. tube is in; itslower position, said stop when in its blocking; position preventing movement ofv workpieces to. a position between saidguide walls, a detent. carried by said frame: adjacent the lower end of said tube. and'movable-between. a retracted position and an obstructing position preventing descent ofworkpieces fromsaid tube to said track movement of said arm toward itsretracted position causing movement of said detent to its retracted position, and means responsive to movementof said arm away: from its retracted position to cause: said: detent: to. move into; its-obstructing position.

No; references? cited. 

